Interview: Ambassador of Great Britain in Belgrade, Denis Keefe
Brussels agreement is not implemented at a pace that was expected. Who do you think is to be blamed for it, Belgrade or Pristina?
It is an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, mediated by the EU, and both Belgrade and Pristina have a responsibility for implementation of the agreement and for achieving results. During the past year there have been periods when the implementation was slow because of the election campaign in Serbia and then elections in Kosovo, but we saw earlier this year specific concrete progress, which has been achieved with a clear commitment from both sides.
Formation of the Community / Association of Serb municipalities (ZSO) is very important for Belgrade, but Pristina still does not want to implement that part of the Brussels Agreement.
That important part of the Brussels agreement is not implemented because there was no agreement on the fundamental issue, which is the statute of the Community / Association of Serb municipalities. It is necessary that both sides have a determination to make that possible.
President Nikolic did a new platform for Kosovo.
I must admit that I have heard stories about the platform, but did not see it, neither I know the comments of my country about it. In any case, we believe that the most important thing is implementation of the Brussels Agreement and progress in the Chapter 35.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has repeatedly talked about the unification of Albania and Kosovo, but there are no serious reactions of the West.
I do not want to comment on individual statements of regional leaders, but in principle all the politicians in this region should act and speak in a responsible way, especially when it comes to certain sensitive issues. It is important to nurture a culture of memory, but at the same time work on reconciliation and overcoming the divisions that existed in the region.
